Window frame with built-in screen



March 18, 1941. B, F, M R N 1 2,235,295

WINDOW FRAME WITH BUILT-IN SCREEN Filed April 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l kzz I INVENTOR 2 774 122573 FMOTQGR W MM ATTORNEY March 18, 1941. a F; M 2235.295

WINDOW FRAME WITH BUILT-IN SCREEN Filed April 25, 1940 2 sheets sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW FRAME WITH BUILT-IN SCREEN Benjamin F. Morgan, Buflalo, N. Y.

Application April 23, 1940, Serial No. 331,166

4 Claims.

"-This invention relates to improvements in window frames of the kind wherein a screen of the "roll-up type is built in or installed as a permanent fixture and the invention contemplates, although it is not necessarily limited to, a

construction which will also accommodate storm sashes.

One object of the invention is to provide a window frame of the type generally described which is so designed that when not in use the screen will be wholly concealed from view and protected from the elements.

A further object is to provide for facility in adjusting the screen to its operative and inoperative positions and in installing and removing the storm sashes. I

A still further object is to provide a novel design and arrangement of the parts of the window frame, whereby to achieve simplicity, compactness and economy in construction and to render inconspicuous the screen guides and associated parts.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a window frame embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section of the bottom of the screen element.

Figure 4 is a detail section of the sill member which holds the screen in its operative position.

Figure 51s an enlarged horizontal section taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail view of one of the spacing and securing elements of the screen guide assemblies.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the screen guiding elements.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5 showins the substitution of storm sashes for the screen element which has been rolled up to its inoperative position.

Figure 9 is a vertical section along the same 5 line as Figure 2 also showing storm sashes installed in place of the screen element.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a modified form of storm sash which may also be substituted for the screen element.

Figure 11 is a vertical section taken along line li-ll of Figure 10.

The window frame, as illustrated, is of the double-sash type and includes side frame members, or jambs I2, a top frame member i3 and 55 a lower frame member or sill ii. The outer trim for the frame is provided by vertical facing members I! and a top horizontal member IS. The upper and lower sashes, which are indicated at l1 and I3, are fitted in outer and inner guideways l3 and 20, respectively. The top frame 5 member 13 is spaced from a header 2i and cooperates with the latter, facing member IS, a wall 22 and a facing member 23 to provide a horizon tally extending chamber 24.

A roller 25, which is suitably mounted in the 10 chamber 24, carries a screen element 26 which may be rolled and unrolled in the manner of a conventional window shade. The screen element passes between a pair of horizontal channel pieces 21 which are supported between the facing mem- 15 her I! and the frame member l3, the edges of the facing flanges of the said channel pieces being spaced apart and being bent outwardly so that the shoulders thus provided are smooth and will offer slight resistance to the passage of the screen 20 element over them. A reinforcing strip 28 (Figure 3) is folded upon and is attached to the free end of the screen element. The said strip is preferably of sheet metal, has a shank portion 29, a tongue portion 30 and laterally extending shoul- 25 ders 3| which connect the shank and tongue portions. In the rolled-up, or inoperative, position of the screen element the shank portion'of the strip 28 extends into the slot between the channel pieces 21 and the shoulders 3i abut the under 30 sides of the latter. In the unrolled, or operative, position of the screen element the tongue portion 30 of the strip 23 extends into an elongated socket 32 (Figure 4) provided by the flanges 33 of a channel strip 34 which is suitably secured to the 35 sill ll. The flanges 33 of the channel strip and the tongue portion 30 of the reinforcing strip are preferably formed with aligned openings 35 for accommodating screws 33 which hold the screen element stretched in its operative position against the tension of the spring of the roller 25.

The opposite edges of the screen element carry headed guide elements 31 (Figure '1), the latter preferably being so spaced that when the screen element is'in its rolled-up position the guide elements at each end of the roll are arranged in a a spiral series, in other words so that one guide element does not overlie another. When the screen element is unrolled the guide elements 31 enter vertical guides 38 which are provided at so the opposite sides of the window frame. Each of the guides 33 comprises inner and outer channel members 39 and 40, respectively, which may be separate pieces, as shown, or which may be formed in one piece if desired. The inner channel 53 members fit against the outer edges of the side frame members or jambs l2; and they overlie the inner edges of the said frame members or jambs and provide the outer vertical walls of the guide way I! for the outer sash. They'are secured in the position described by elements 4|. The latter have inner ends 42 which pass through openings 43 in the inner channel members and screw into the end walls of the jambs l2. They also have enlarged bodies 44 and threaded stems 45, the said stems passing through openings 45 in the outer channel members and extending into aligning openings 4'! formed along the inner edges of the facing members l5. Removable heads 48 screw upon the ends of the stems 45 and enter the openings 41. They cooperate with conventional lag screws 49 to secure the facing members l and channel members 59 and 40 in the desired assembled relation, it being noted that the bodies 44 of the elements 4| space the said channel members so that the distance between their guiding flanges 50 is adequate to permit free vertical movement of the guide elements 51.

It will be noted that the screen is incorporated in the window frame as a permanent fixture. Seasonal installations and removals are thus avoided. As the vertical guides for the screen are for the most part concealed behind the facing members of the trim they are inconspicuous and do not detract or impair the general appearance of the window. The construction described has the further advantage that, when not in use, the screen is wholly enclosed and hence is protected from the deteriorating influence of the elements.

The invention contemplates the use of the screen guides and related parts in connection with the installation of storm sashes 5| and 52 (Figures 8 and 9). The frames of the said sashes are preferably metal and they include side flanges 53 which may be inserted between the guide flanges 50 of the channel members 35 and 40. To facilitate this the heads 48 of the elements 4i and the lag screws 49 are preferably first loosened to permit adequate separation of the channel members and are thereafter retightened. Preferably the top cross-piece of the frame of the upper storm sash 5| is formed to provide a channel 54 which the tongue portion 30 of the reinforcing strip 24 will enter while the bottom crosspiece of the lower sash 52 is formed with a tongue 55 which will enter the channel strip 34 on the sill l4. The construction described has the advantage that the joints between all marginal edges of the frames of the storm sashes and the window frame are tightly sealed while the sashes are held firmly in the desired spaced relation withrespect to the sashes l1 and I8. In this connection it is to be understood that although the built-in characteristic of the screen guides and related parts facilitates the installation of storm sashes this added advantage need not necessarily be'availed of.

A modified form of storm sash is illustrated in Figures and 11. In this embodiment the pane 55 of the sash is formed with a ventilating opening 51. The latter is closed by a glass panel 58 which is mounted between upper and lower guides 59 and 50, respectively, so that it may be moved horizontally to one side of the opening when desired.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the window frame described has the advantage that permanent provision is made for accommodating a screen which, while being protected from the elements, is instantly available when required. Installation of storm sashes, when these are employed, is also facilitated. In addition to these advantages it will also be noted that the inner channel members 35 of the guides for the screen element provide the outer vertical walls of the guideway I! for the upper sash. The conventional guide strips which are ordinarily employed for this purpose are thus rendered unnecessary and may be dispensed with.

I claim as my invention:

1. A window frame having a guideway for a movable sash, a side frame member and a side trim member and including a screen guide arranged at a side of said frame between said side trim member and side frame member, said guide forming a part of said sash guideway and comprising companion sections. the back of one of which fits against said sideframe member and the back of the other of which fits against the back of said trim member and means for securing said screen guide in the position described, said means including elements which screw into said side frame member and each having a body portion which spaces said sections apart.

2. A window frame having a side frame member and a side trim member and including a screen guide arranged at a side of said frame, said guide comprising spaced sections, the back of one of which fits against the back of said trim member, said trim member being formed with spaced holes and elements for attaching said guide to said frame member, said elements each having a threaded stem which is located in one of said holes and a body portion which is located between said sections and which acts as a spacer and a removable head which screws upon said stem and which engages said trim member.

3. A window frame having a guideway for a sash which is movable to open and closed positions, a side frame member and a side trim member and including a screen guide arranged at a side of said frame, said guide comprising companion sections which provide opposed spaced guiding edges, one of said sections fitting against said side frame member and the back thereof providing a side wall of said guideway and the other fitting against the back of said trim member and an element for securing said guide in said frame, said element passing through said trim member and the companion sections of said guide and screwing into said side frame member.

4. A window frame having a guideway for a sash which is movable to open and closed positions, a side frame member and a side trim member which is formed with openings, said window frame including a screen guide arranged at a side of said frame, said guide comprising companion sections having opposed guiding edges, elements which screw into said side frame members for securing said guide thereto, each of said elementshaving a body portion which is located between said sections and which cooperates with the latter to space said guiding edges a predetermined distance apart and having a threaded shank portion which is accommodated in one of said openings and a head carried by said shank portion which may be unscrewed to enable separation of the guiding edges of the companion sections of said guide.

BENJAMIN F. MORGAN. 

